Sifter-top container



L. GERHARDT.

SIFTER TOP CONTAINER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 9, 1916.

1 ,3 14,957 1ut:I{12cdS0pt. 2, 1919.

5 vwemto'c Leonard Gerhardt 3251 11.1.: 6410x142 .tion to a can top wherein a sliding cap UNITED, STATES PATENT ornrcE.

LEONARD GERHARDT, 0F ARLINGTON, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR TO TIN DECORATING COMPANY OF BALTIMORE, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

To all whom it may agncem:

Be it known that I, LEONARD GERHARD'I, a citizen of the United States, residing at Arlington, in the county of Baltimore and State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sifter-Top Containers, of which the following is a specification.

Thi invention relates to a sitter top can of the class commonly employed as a container for toilet powder and other pulverized materials, and has particular applicais provided with a ertures or perforations adapted to be shi ted into and out of registry with similar apertures or perforations formed in the stationary or permanent top section of the can body. Such an arrangement of course, permits the can to be sea ed against the escape of the contents and also enables the latter to be sifted from the can as may be desired.

In the present instance, it is my purpose to provide a can of this ty e wherein the sliding cap, which is preferably stamped or otherwise formed from a single blank of sheet metal, may be easily and instantly assembled or snapped in position on the head of the can top and maintained in such gripping relation with the latter that while it may be shifted to open and closed position with but little effort such cap will be held securely against accidental disengagement from the head on which it is mounted.

Furthermore, I propose to provide a sifting can which may be conveniently held in one hand and the cap shifted into open and closed position by the pressure of the thumb against one end of such cap and the pressure of the fore-finger against the opposite end of the cap, the latter having transverse ledges or flanges at opposite ends thereof which form gripping or engaging members for the thumb and finger, these flanges being preferably formed-by rolling or folding back a part, of the metal ofthe cap against the flat top plate of the latter.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a sliding cap having a pair of resilient side flanges one at each longitudinal side, these flanges being disconnected at their vertical ends or edges and being made of relatively less depth than the depth of the side walls of the head so that the spr1ng1- Specification of Letters Patent;

SIFTER-TOP CONTAINER.

Patented Sept. 2, 1919.

Application filed September 9, 1916. Serial No. 119,188.

capable of belng economically manufactured by machinery, may be made and marked at a comparatively low cost.

With the above recited objects and others of a similar nature in view, my invention conslsts 1n the construction, combination and arrangement of parts set forth in and fallm within the scope of the appended claims.

n the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1, is a perspective view of one form of my improved sifting can.

Fig. 2, is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken through the cap and top of the can.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the cap detached.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the top of the can for the cap shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5, is a perspective view of a modified form of a can top and cap therefor.

Fig. 6, is a perspective view of the can top to receive the cap shown in Fig. 5.

Referring now to the accompanying drawlngs in detail, and particularly to F 1gs. l to 4 inclusive, the letter A, indicates the can body as an entirety, this being referably formed of sheet metal as usual, and in the form shown herein is elliptical in cross-section. The permanent top wall of the can is provided with an elevated head of substantially rectangular form, such head having vertical side walls 1 and vertical end walls 2 surmounted by a flat top plate 3, provided with a suitable number of spaced apertures or perforations 4. In the structure as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4 this top plate 3 is shorter than the extreme length of the head thereby forming the transverse end shoulders 5, adjacent the top of such head. Each side wall 1 of the head is formed with a longitudinally extending bead 6 adapted to form a retaining guide for the sliding cap as will hereinafter appear.

The cap for the can shown in Fig. 1 is indicated as a whole by the letter C, and is preferably made in one piece from a thin blank of sheet metal by stamping or otherwise. This cap C in lts finished condition comprises a rectangular top plate 7 having a longitudinally extending depending skirt or flange 8 at each longitudinal side thereof, each skirt or flange being .bent or crimped centrally and longitudinally to provide the grooved heads 9 which are adapted to slidingly engage the ribs or heads 6 of the head. These skirts or flanges 8 are of less depth than the side walls of the head, as will be understood by reference to Figs. 1, 2 and 5 and are not connected at their vertical end edges 10, but the material of the cap at the ends of the top plate 7, is rolled or turned inward and back against the under side of such top plate thus forming the transverse flanges or ledges 11 which constitute finger pieces to be pressed against in sliding the cap to either cover oruncover. the openings in the can head. The top plate 7 of the cap is provided with apertures or perforations 12, adapted to be moved into and out of registry with the apertures or perforations 4, in the head as will be readily understood. The cap of course slides back and forth in. a longitudinal path on the head, and in order to limit this sliding movement of the cap in both directions, I provide suitable means, preferably a slot and stud. connected between the head and cap. In the present instance the top plate of the head carries a stud 13 which projects into the closed-end slot 14, in the top plate of the cap.. Thus when the cap is shifted so that the pin is at one end of the slot the apertures of the head and cap will register so the powder may be sifted from the can,

. while when the shifting of the cap brings the pin to the opposite end of the slot the aperturesof the cap and head will be out of registration and the can completely and effectively closed and sealed against the escape of the contents.

In Figs. 5 and 6 I have shown a slightly modified form of the invention, in this instance the cap and head being of the same general form as shown in Figs. 1 to 4:, except that the transverse shoulders 5 are omitted from the head and one of the longitudinal beads of one of the side skirts or flanges 8 is slotted as at 14 for the reception of the stud 13, so that the means for limiting the sliding movement of the cap is at one side of the cap and head instead of on top of these latter parts. Furthermore the finger pieces or flanges are formed by rolling or bending the material at the ends of the top plate of the cap upward and inward against the top face of such plate. Otherwise, the

fattest construction and operation of the device is the same as that described for the form of the invention, shown in Figs. 1 to .4 inclusive. It will be noted in connection with the structure shown in said Figs. 1 to 4, that the shoulders 5 do not form contacting surfaces or stops for the finger pieces or flanges 11, for the limiting of the sliding of the cap. is accomplished entirely by the slot and stud arrangement, as'it is not desirable to subject these finger pieces 11 to possible distortion by constant contact with the rigid head, which would occur did the head itself or the shoulders thereof act as stops for the sliding cap. The cut away shoulders merely partially make room for or accommodate the finger pieces or flanges 11, thereby enabling a relatively short cap to be used.

Such a structure as I have shown is devoid of springs, or other attachments which would tend to increase the cost of manufacture in addition to presenting the liability of. accidental derangement and thus interfering with the operation of the can.

in great quantities and very cheaply thus' materially reducing the ultimate cost of the article. 4

While I have herein shown and described certain preferred forms of the invention I Wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself to all the precise details of construction set forth by way of illustration as modifications and variations may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or exceeding the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A sifting top container comprising a body portion having a substantially rectangular elevated head provided with transversely extending end shoulders adjacent the top of such head and with longitudinally extending ribs at opposite sides thereof, said head also having a perforated top wall, a

cap surmounting said head and adapted to slide longitudinally thereof, said cap being formed of a single blank of metal and including a substantially rectangular top plate having perforations adapted to be moved into a-nd out of registry with the perforaof the ends of the cap, such finger piecesl30 mam ' being adapted to seat on the shoulders of the head when the cap is in certain positions and means for limiting the longitudinal slidingl movement of the cap on the head in bot directions.

2. In a sifter top container, a substantially rectangular head having perforations in the top wall thereof and having a rib extending longitudinally and centrally of each of the longitudinal side walls of the head, and a rectangular perforated cap surmounting said head and having depending parallel side flanges of less depth than the v depth of the adjacent side walls of the head, each of said flanges having a grooved 15 bead extending centrally and longitudinally thereof, said grooved beads being adapted to slidingly engage with the beads on the longitudinal side walls of the head.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

LEONARD GERHARDT.

Witnesses:

M. H. CONNOR, J. W. SLINGSTENE. 

